Best Vision Insurance for Seniors in 2024
Direct Vision Insurance is our top pick for vision insurance plans, thanks to the company’s affordable plans and extensive coverage.
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- Several affordable plans to choose from
- No waiting periods
- Includes coverage for routine vision care, glasses, and contact lenses
- Affordable copays
- Comprehensive coverage without waiting periods for major procedures
- Combines comprehensive dental and vision insurance
- Significant discounts on contact lenses and eyeglass enhancement
- Full coverage for standard eye needs (after deductible)
- The largest network of independent providers
- Marketplace that connects users with the best vision insurance carriers
- Easily compare companies and plans
- Excellent customer service
- No enrollment fees
- Easy claims process
- Excellent customer service
Contents
Many seniors require corrective lenses and regular therapies for an array of eye conditions and diseases. While preventive annual checkups are essential to maintaining good eye health and vision, that might only be possible with a solid vision insurance plan. Vision insurance is one of the best ways to reduce the cost of diagnostic and preventative eye care, as well as eyeglass frames and prescription lenses.
We’ve narrowed down this list of vision insurance carriers to help you find the best plan for you in 2024. Our team spent over 100 hours researching and comparing plans. We evaluated each carrier for important factors like price, availability, benefits, and network size.
The Best Vision Insurance Plans for Seniors for 2024
Here are the Best Vision Insurance Plans for Seniors for 2024
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Direct Vision Insurance - This carrier offers a large network of eye doctors, along with discounts and savings on standard services and vision correction aids like glasses and contacts.
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Spirit Vision - A smaller insurance company with generous payout limitations, Spirit Vision also offers combination dental and vision insurance policies.
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VSP - VSP plans are designed to complement Medicare benefits, which can make getting the vision care seniors need even more affordable and within reach through a large provider network.
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eHealth - eHealth does not provide policies; it’s a hub that helps seniors find the vision insurance coverage they need by offering quotes and information from top companies. -
UnitedHealthcare - This provider offers good benefits at reasonable rates and is widely accepted by thousands of private clinics.
Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Vision Insurance for Seniors
Our team spent over 100 hours researching and comparing vision carriers and plans for seniors. Then, we narrowed down the list to our top picks. We considered several important factors when evaluating each carrier, including:
- Price: Monthly or annual premiums are the main cost associated with vision insurance. While vision insurance tends to be relatively affordable compared to comprehensive health insurance, premiums, deductibles, copays, and other fees can vary by carrier. We focused on carriers that offer a good balance between valuable coverage and affordable prices.
- Availability: Not all vision insurance carriers are available nationwide. Some are only available in certain states or regions; others offer coverage to far more Americans than their competitors. We aimed to include some of the most widely available vision insurance carriers on this list.
- Benefits: For vision insurance, benefits most often come in the form of discounts and allowances on eye exams, lenses, and other common vision-related care. While many carriers offer similar discounts to one another, we looked for plans and carriers that have better benefits than the national average.
- Network size: Even if a carrier has plans available in your area, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to find a provider close by that’s in your network. We focused our attention on carriers with large provider networks that include both private clinics and popular retail chains.
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1. Direct Vision Insurance - Best Provider Comparison
What we like most
- Several affordable plans to choose from
- No waiting periods
- Includes coverage for routine vision care, glasses, and contact lenses
Direct Vision InsuranceOverview:It’s always nice to have options when it comes to insurance, and Direct Vision Insurance offers plenty. While out-of-network providers are partially covered, choosing an approved provider from the VSP or EyeMed networks will reap customers greater savings on routine exams, eyewear, and other services.
This is a great route for seniors who want to cover the cost of exams, eyewear, contacts, and other vision services — without the hassle of dealing with claim forms or ID cards. Seniors also appreciate the option to use out-of-network providers, especially those who frequently travel or live a nomadic lifestyle. The downside is Direct Vision Insurance covers little in the way of major eye care treatments, with the exception of discounts on LASIK or PRK procedures. With Direct Vision Insurance, older adults will need to depend on Medicare, Medicaid, or a private health plan for more comprehensive eye care coverage.
» Related Reading: A guide to Medicare and Medicaid
Pros & Cons:Pros About Direct Vision Insurance
- Flexible, affordable plans to fit your needs at reasonable rates
- No waiting periods
- No claims forms to fill out
- Covers routine vision care, glasses, and contact lenses
- Discount offers for LASIK and PRK eye surgery
Cons About Direct Vision Insurance
- Very little coverage for major procedures
- Must file a claim when using out-of-network providers
Plan and Pricing Details:Direct Vision Insurance makes it easy to get online quotes in seconds. Potential customers can navigate to the company’s website and put in their zip code to get a quote. We examined plans and pricing for Miami, Florida, but keep in mind that prices and plan availability can vary by location. We could choose from four plans through two distinct networks (VSP and EyeMed). While Direct Vision Insurance does provide plenty of options to choose from, it doesn’t give you a good way to combine vision and dental benefits like Spirit Vision does.
Did You Know? You may be able to save even more by combining dental, vision, and hearing benefits with an insurance carrier like Aetna. Read our Aetna Medicare Advantage review and guide to the best Medicare Advantage plans to learn more.
The cheapest plan, EyeMed Access Plan B, starts at $9.22 per month. It offers one eye exam per year with a $15 deductible, prescription lenses every two years with a $25 deductible, as well as a $150 frame or contact lens allowance every two years. The plan also includes additional discounts and savings on things like lens upgrades, nonprescription sunglasses, and laser eye surgery.
All the plans available through Direct Vision Insurance offer similar benefits, though customers can potentially increase their savings by paying a little more each month. For example, the most expensive plan, VSP Choice Plan A, starts at $12.78 per month. The primary benefit to choosing this plan is that it offers coverage for prescription lenses, frames, and contact lenses once every year, instead of once every two years. However, the downside is the deductibles for contact lens exams and fittings increase to $60.
Availability and In-Network Providers
Since Direct Vision Insurance works with two separate networks, availability and the total number of in-network providers will vary based on your plan. With a VSP plan, customers have access to 88,000 independent vision clinics and 27,000 national and regional chains, including Costco Optical, Sam's Club, Visionworks, and Walmart.
» Helpful Resource: Smartphone apps and resources for people with vision loss
Alternatively, an EyeMed plan comes with 29,000 independent vision providers and 6,700 retail locations. This means that EyeMed’s network isn’t nearly as large, so if you’re concerned about having access to a nearby provider in your network, you might be better off picking one of Direct Vision Insurance’s VSP plans. If you want to access VSP’s network directly, you can also sign up for a VSP Vision Care plan without going through Direct Vision Insurance (more on that later).
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2. Spirit Vision - Best Insurance Bundles
What we like most
- Affordable copays
- Comprehensive coverage without waiting periods for major procedures
- Combines comprehensive dental and vision insurance
Spirit VisionOverview:Spirit Vision is a smaller company that offers an array of dental plans to which customers can add a vision plan. In combination, these policies are great for many seniors’ vision and dental needs. In particular, Spirit Vision plans are excellent for those who need serious dental work or suffer from chronic eye conditions, unlike the more basic vision plans offered by UnitedHealthcare. The company offers vision policies through the EyeMed Care Network and has some nice add-ons for both families and individual seniors.
» Related Reading: Best dental plans for seniors in 2024
The company’s combination dental and vision insurance is comprehensive, yet the two-in-one packages are often more expensive than traditional vision insurance from carriers like Direct Vision Insurance, VSP, or UnitedHealthcare. However, they do offer immediate coverage and have generous allowances for even costly procedures. If major dental work or intensive vision care is needed, Spirit Vision may be the ideal company to meet your needs.
Pros & Cons:Pros About Spirit Vision
- Comprehensive coverage w/ small co-pays for routine services
- Customized plans for individual's needs
- No waiting period for major procedures
- Security of having dental and vision policies bundled
Cons About Spirit Vision
- Vision add-on availability varies by location
- Must bundle vision benefits with a dental plan
- Prices are higher than most competitors
Plan and Pricing Details:Plans and Pricing
Spirit Vision plans are only available as a supplemental bundled policy with dental coverage and the additional charge for vision insurance is currently just $7 per month ($14 for couples and $20 for families). That said, the cost is much higher than any other carrier on this list because it includes comprehensive dental coverage. Fortunately, Spirit Vision insurance doesn’t come with any deductibles. In-network copays range from $10 to $25, depending on the type of care required, which is far lower than the copays customers see with VSP Vision.
» Learn More: Affordable dental care for seniors
Even if you opt for the carrier’s most cost-effective preventative dental care plan, you can expect to pay roughly $27.15 in total per month. This is more than double the most expensive vision plan from Direct Vision Insurance and UnitedHealthcare. If you opt for a more comprehensive dental plan with Spirit Vision, prices for dental and vision will start closer to $54.96 per month. Budget-minded seniors may want to pursue other options unless they need extensive dental work, in which case Spirit Vision and Dental plans are a good deal.
Availability and In-Network Providers
Like Direct Vision Insurance, Spirit Vision uses the VSP Choice and EyeMed networks, which have more than 100,000 nationwide providers combined. EyeMed is the primary network used by Spirit Vision and it’s available in most states. If Spirit Vision is available in your area but EyeMed or VSP Choice are not, you can choose an alternative provider network. Unfortunately, Spirit Vision insurance is not available as an add-on in every state, so you’ll need to check the company’s website to see if there are plans and providers in your area.
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3. VSP - Best for Uninsured Seniors
What we like most
- Significant discounts on contact lenses and eyeglass enhancement
- Full coverage for standard eye needs (after deductible)
- The largest network of independent providers
VSPOverview:VSP Vision plans are some of the most affordable and versatile options on the market today. However, they are basically designed to supplement Medicare plans, with policies covering things that Medicare typically does not. This helps seniors keep vision costs under control and predictable. By choosing upgraded options, seniors can also save more on enhancements such as trifocals, bifocals, colored contact lenses, progressive eyeglass lenses, and certain types of laser correction surgery.
» Find Out: Is cataract surgery covered by Medicare Advantage plans?
Seniors in the market for a great way to supplement their current vision coverage under Original Medicare will find VSP Vision to be an affordable carrier to boost their annual savings. They are one of the few companies that provide significant discounts for contact lenses and eyeglass enhancements. Seniors will also appreciate the great hearing aid discounts available should they find themselves in need of one.
Expert Tip: Need help finding hearing aids on a budget? Check out our guide to the best cheap hearing aids for seniors.
Pros & Cons:Pros About VSP
- VSP boasts the country’s largest network of independent providers
- Members can save up to 60 percent on hearing aids
- Policy upgrades available
- Generous full coverage for standard eye needs after meeting deductible
- Open enrollment periods
Cons About VSP
- Must have an upgraded policy for discounts on enhancements like transition lenses
- Without Medicare in place, the policy isn’t very useful
- Higher average copay for contact lenses
Plan and Pricing Details:Plans and Pricing
VSP Vision makes it easy to find a plan directly on their website. We just input our zip code and age range to ensure we qualify. Then, we could choose between three different frame allowances: $150 per year, $230 per year, or no allowance (contact lenses only). With the $150 frame allowance, we could access three plans (in Miami) starting at roughly $11.20 per month for the Standard Plan. The EasyOptions plan costs about $14.80 per month and adds three upgrade options, while the Enhanced plan costs about $16.31 per month and offers more savings on multiple lens enhancements. These prices are a little higher than Direct Vision Insurance, which offers more competitive prices by using both the VSP and EyeMed networks.
» You Might Like: 8 helpful tips to building a budget on a fixed income
Keep in mind that VSP Vision premiums, deductibles, and copays can vary by location. For example, the plans available in Miami don’t have any deductibles, but they do have copays ranging from $15 to $175, depending on the service and plan. These are relatively high compared to Spirit Vision and Direct Vision Insurance. Still, individuals can save up to $200 annually on their eye exams and glasses while enjoying additional discounts on prescription hearing aids (up to 60 percent) or over-the-counter hearing aids (up to 20 percent) through provider TruHearing. Many of these savings cannot be enjoyed under original Medicare policies on their own.
FYI: Get help deciding if OTC hearing aids are right for you by checking out our guide to the best over-the-counter hearing aids.
Availability and In-Network Providers
According to the company’s website, there are 82 million VSP Vision members nationwide, meaning that nearly 1 in 4 Americans depend on VSP for eye care. Additionally, the carrier boasts more than 88,000 private providers and is widely accepted at popular retail chains like Walmart, Costco, Visionworks, and Sam’s Club. This makes it a fantastic vision insurance carrier for seniors who want peace of mind knowing they can find one or more in-network eye care providers nearby.
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4. eHealth
What we like most
- Marketplace that connects users with the best vision insurance carriers
- Easily compare companies and plans
- Excellent customer service
Overview:As the largest online marketplace for insurance today, eHealth is not an individual vision insurance carrier. It’s a service that connects individuals and families with companies that can meet their vision insurance needs. eHealth works with the nation’s largest providers, such as AARP, Humana, and Aetna, and seniors who may be able to add vision coverage to an existing health policy. The company makes it easy to compare plans, and eHealth has a solid reputation for having friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives.
» Related Reading: A guide to AARP membership
Seniors looking for an easy way to shop for vision insurance with side-by-side comparisons of features, costs, and deductibles should give eHealth a try. They have an extensive network through multiple insurance companies, so it’s likely your current eye doctor is within one of the partnership’s network of providers. eHealth offers those on a budget who also face time constraints a viable option for quickly finding vision insurance.
Pros & Cons:Pros About eHealth
- One of the nation’s largest networks of providers
- Side-by-side comparisons are easy to view online
- Website is intuitive and user-friendly
- Can search by doctor
- Helpful terminology explanations for different coverage types
Cons About eHealth
- Not a direct vision insurance carrier
- If current doctor isn’t on the network, you’ll need a new provider
- Numerous choices may be overwhelming
Plan and Pricing Details:Plans and Pricing
Since eHealth is an online marketplace for dozens of major insurance carriers, the prices for vision coverage will vary. Age, location, the maximum coverage desired, and the company chosen will ultimately determine premiums, deductibles, copays, and any other costs.
Availability and In-Network Providers
eHealth allows you to compare a wide range of insurance carriers with hundreds of thousands of nationwide providers. The ability to search by doctor also means you could potentially stay with your current provider while shopping for a new vision plan. As an insurance marketplace, eHealth has wider availability and more providers than even some of the most popular vision insurance carriers like VSP Vision and UnitedHealthcare.
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5. UnitedHealthcare
What we like most
- No enrollment fees
- Easy claims process
- Excellent customer service
Overview:UnitedHealthcare is one of the industry’s largest players, and overall the company gets positive reviews from customers. They offer a solid level of benefits with numerous policy options for vision insurance. Typically, customers will have both health and vision insurance bundled with UnitedHealthcare policies. Seniors will benefit from the company’s large list of in-network providers, in addition to having access to out-of-network providers at a slightly higher cost.
» For Medicare Coverage: UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage plans review
They offer standard and premium vision plans and are one of the few companies that don’t require an enrollment fee. One thing to note is that UnitedHealthcare has become a bit harder to obtain on an individual or family level. The company has shifted more toward catering to corporate-held policies. Additionally, it doesn’t offer the same level of provider accessibility since some retail access points don’t accept it.
Pros & Cons:Pros About UnitedHealthcare
- No enrollment fees
- No waiting period
- Solid industry reputation for prompt service and easy claims processes
- Out-of-network benefits are above average
- Works as standalone insurance or a supplement to Medicare
- Generous eyeglass frame allowances
Cons About UnitedHealthcare
- Top-tier plan doesn’t offer much more than standard plan
- Premiums tend to be high for individuals
- Retail access to policies may be limited
Plan and Pricing Details:Plans and Pricing
Pricing will depend on personal factors to some extent (including tobacco usage), but for vision policies, UnitedHealthcare offers standard plans for individuals starting at about $12 per month for individuals and $19 per month for families. In Miami, we only found one vision plan for seniors, VisionWise Premier, which starts at $13.28 per month.
Did You Know? According to a recent study, 27.8 percent of those aged 71 and older have vision loss.1
Similar to most carriers on this list, the plan offers up to $150 annual allowance for frames, but it also has a separate $150 allowance for lenses. Eye exams have no copay (a big advantage over VSP Vision), though most other eye care services have copays starting at $10 per visit. While UnitedHealthcare isn’t quite as affordable as Spirit Vision, the benefits they offer could help save money on out-of-pocket costs over time. There’s also no enrollment fee, and there may be discounts when paying annually or bundling with other insurance services through UnitedHealthcare.
Availability and In-Network Providers
Seniors like that there is both in and out-of-network compensation available and that there are 30,000 providers to choose from on UnitedHealthcare’s network. UnitedHealthcare offers vision insurance through VisionWise, which is available in 40 states. This makes it easy for most customers to find an eye doctor nearby that accepts UnitedHealthcare. Still, its network is not nearly as large as VSP. Additionally, it’s worth considering that while many retail chains accept UnitedHealthcare vision insurance, acceptance can vary by individual location.
» Carrier Overview: UnitedHealthcare and senior care coverage
What is Vision Insurance?
Vision insurance generally refers to wellness plans established to help policyholders lower their out-of-pocket costs for preventive and routine eye care, eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other eye-related treatments. Some policies may even cover corrective surgeries and procedures, such as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and LASIK. However, vision insurance doesn’t work the same way as traditional medical insurance, which offers unlimited benefits after meeting deductibles and copays.
Pro Tip: Still confused about what kind of insurance you need? Here is everything you need to know about insurance for seniors.
Instead, most vision plans work as discount plans with set limits and benefits in exchange for a monthly or annual premium. Vision insurance covers much of the cost of comprehensive eye examinations, eyewear, and contact lenses, with policyholders paying a small copay or meeting a deductible before benefits kick in. Most policies require add-ons to cover enhancements such as scratch-resistant coatings, photochromic lenses, progressive lenses, and anti-reflective coatings.
>> Related Reading: Find the Best Glasses for You
What Does Vision Insurance Cover?
Every vision insurance provider will offer different levels of coverage amid their range of policies and add-on options. However, the primary services and enhancement options are typically the same across the board. Traditionally, one can expect a good vision insurance policy to offer the following benefits.
- Eye examinations: Policyholders will qualify for one annual vision exam, with copays ranging between $0 and $20.
- Eyeglass frames: Often offered in the form of an “allowance,” meaning the amount of money the insurer pays, eyeglass frame discounts range between $150 and $230, depending on the provider.
- Lenses for eyewear: Typically, out-of-pocket costs for standard lenses are a copay ranging between $20 and $60. Benefits are usually available once a year or once every two years.
- Contact lenses: Payouts for contacts average between $100 and $150, depending on the level of coverage you select and policy limitations.
- LASIK and surgical procedures: Many providers will offer some type of discount or coverage for vision correction surgeries. The amounts will vary, but they average around a $500 max payout.
- Bundled care: Though not directly covered by vision insurance, many vision insurance carriers offer bundled dental or hearing care with vision policies, which can help older adults pay for things like routine dental cleanings or hearing aids.
Common enhancements or add-ons to vision policies allow benefits for transition lenses, progressive lenses, polycarbonate lenses, and scratch-resistant coatings.
What Does Vision Insurance Not Cover?
As with any type of insurance policy, there will be exclusions concerning what the company will and will not cover. Vision insurance is no different, and exclusions will vary from one carrier to the next. However, vision insurance coverage typically excludes:
- Exams beyond once or twice per year
- Eyeglass replacements without warranty insurance
- Charges for missed appointments
- Provider application fees or miscellaneous charges
- Reading glasses or magnification devices
- Experimental procedures
- Medically-related eye problems that should be covered under a health policy
How Much Does Vision Insurance Cost?
How much vision insurance costs will depend on several factors, including whether the coverage is employer-provided and whether it is bundled with a larger policy such as health and dental. Factors like where the applicant lives, their age, the level of coverage requested, and tobacco use will also impact the final cost of a vision insurance premium.
» Useful Resource: Changes in health and health care needs as we age
Seniors who are still covered under an employer-sponsored plan may have the option to participate in a flexible spending account for vision care. Another affordable option for seniors is a Medicare Advantage plan that includes vision benefits. The best advice here is to shop around. You can also use a search company that will ease the process of getting matched up with the best carrier within your budget.
Why is Vision Insurance a Good Investment for Seniors?
Vision insurance is a wise investment for most seniors, as age tends to bring about weaker vision and can foster a number of age-related eye conditions, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eyes, to name a few. It is recommended that seniors over the age of 65 receive a comprehensive eye examination once a year, according to the American Optometric Association.2 However, those with an eye-related condition or really poor vision will want to come in twice per year.
According to Aflac, first-time eye exams cost about $200 without insurance,3 and this may or may not include copays and additional fees. With a fairly priced policy, the cost of one eye exam can easily justify the policy premiums. Seniors who require corrective lenses or who manage an eye-related condition with an optometrist will benefit most from having vision insurance. Vision policies have a set allowance for such needs, so customers will spend less out of pocket when getting new contact lenses or eyeglasses.
Whether or not vision insurance is worth the expense is a personal choice, but if you have vision problems, you’ll likely get your money’s worth with coverage.
Check out our video below to learn more about why you may need a vision insurance plan.
JAMA Network. (2023). Population Prevalence of Vision Impairment in US Adults 71 Years and Older.
American Optometric Association. (2024). Comprehensive eye exams.
Aflac. (2024). How Much Does an Eye Exam Cost Without Insurance?